Stencil-holding tray



y 1934- H. P. ELLIOTT STENCIL HOLDING TRAY Filed May 7, 1932 River? ?0i. W P M 11.

Patented May 1, 19254 NlTEl? STATES lssat'zz FATEN'E QFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to filing trays especially adapted to hold address-bearing stencils such as are used in mechanical addressing systems, a stencil comprising a relatively stiff paper frame which bounds a window occupied by a thin address-bearing stencil sheet. The stencils are arranged in vertical position in a horizontal row in the tray, the narrow bottom edges of the stencils resting on the bottom of the tray. The tray is adapted to be full of stencils so that the front and rear end walls of the tray hold the stencils upright. It is frequently necessary, however, to remove a number of stencils from the tray. The row of stencils then is unsupported at one end and the stencils at the unsupported end become inclined from the vertical and have a tendency to slide over the bottom of the tray and to fall into a horizontal position in the tray, necessitating their being picked up and restored to their vertical on-edge position. This action of the stencils is objectionable as it interferes with the free use of the stencils and requires time to be spent in replacing the stencils. Hence an object of the invention is the provision of a stencil tray that has a stencil supporting surface on which the bottom edges of the stencils stand, which surface is rough or has projections that catch the bottom edges of the stencils and hold them against slipping over the surface when they are inclined with respect therewith.

A further object is to provide a stencil tray with the above described rough stencil-retaining surface in the form of a paint or lacquer which also forms the covering or protective surface for the metal of the tray, the paint or lacquer characterized by crystalizing or cracking, crinkling, or

becoming roughened, when it is dried, and especially when it is baked dry.

A yet further object is generally to improve 3 stencil-holding trays.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stencil-holding tray embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a tray similar to Fig. 1 but having a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional detail through a tray and a series of stencils therein and illustrating the manner in which the roughened surface of the tray holds the inclined stencils against slipping.

and the upstanding side walls 14 which rise above the outer edges of the shelves. The ends of the side walls are provided with integral ears 16 which are reflexed inwardly toward each other and overlie the ends of the stencil space of the tray and provide end supports for the horizontal row of stencils therein. Said ears have which are refiexed against the under faces of and are welded to the shelves; and the shelves have tabs 20 which are welded to the outer faces of the Q ears, whereby to retain the ears in position. The space under the shelves l2 and above the bottom wall 10 is adapted to receive the blade, not shown, of an addressing machine for the purpose of moving the collection of stencils in the tray as a U unit into the stencil holder of the machine.

The stencils a are disposed face to back in vertical position within the tray with the narrow bottom edges thereof resting on the shelves 12 and supported in vertical position by the ears 16. As has been stated heretofore it is frequently necessary to remove a number of stencils from the tray, leaving the remaining stencils inclined from the vertical with one end of the row supported by one set of ears 16 at one end of the tray and the other end unsupported. Heretofore, the top faces of the shelves 12 of the tray have been smooth so that the unsupported stencils at the end of the row slip on the shelves and fall into a horizontal position with their flat faces on the shelves.

In accordance with the present invention the shelves are provided with rough stencil engaging faces 22 that provide a series of projections 24 and indentations 26 in and on and between which I the bottom edges of the stencils are lodged and which hold the stencils from sliding along and over the shelves, even though the stencils may be inclined at a sharp angle to said shelves.

Also in accordance with this invention, the

tray is provided with the afore-described roughened stencil engaging surfaces by applying thereto a liquid paint which when dried, and especially when baked, forms a rough and so-called crystalline finish, as is indicated in the drawing.

Hence the rough surfaces 22 of the shelves 12 are composed of such paint which, of itself, is in common use for surface protection and ornamentation. While it is sufficient to treat the surfaces of the shelves 12, only, in Fig. 3, it is convenient to apply the paint to the entire inner face of the tray, since it is desirable to spray-deposit the paint and, all things being considered, it is less expensive to coat the entire inner tabs 18 as indicated face of the tray than to delineate two lines of the paint on the shelves only. After the paint has been applied, the paint is baked, which causes the paint to roughen and crystallize in the manner above described. The portions of the tray not covered by the crystalline paint are provided with a smooth and durable painted or enameled surface.

While the particular rough surface is herein described as being the result of applying a particular kind of paint, and baking the applied paint, the specific trade distinctions between paint, lacquer, enamel, and varnish is not herein of importance and the term paint is intended to embrace all types of liquid protective media that can be applied to a surface by spraying, brushing, dipping or otherwise and that when dried under suitable conditions form a rough surface that has the above described characteristics. The medium used is known to the trade as Clear Crystalizing varnish and, when baked in a closed oven, with a deficiency of oxygen, gives the above described rough crystal finish. The essential characteristic of the varnish is that it has a base of tung or china oil, which when baked in a foul oven, that is, one having a deficiency of oxygen, forms the described finish.

I claim:

1. A stencil tray adapted to hold a horizontal row of vertical stencils and having a wall on which the narrow bottom edges of the stencils rest, the stencil-engaging surface of said wall being characterized by being rough and having projections and indentations of a baked crystallized paint on and between which the bottom edges of the stencils rest and by which they are engaged and held from sliding over said surface.

2. A stencil tray adapted to hold a horizontal row of vertical stencils and having a Wall on which the narrow bottom edges of the stencils rest, the stencil-engaging face of said wall having thereon a deposit of paint the surface of which is broken to present a rough stencil-engaging surface that has small promiscuous projections at the broken surfaces which engage the bottom edges of the stencils and hold them from sliding over said surface.

3. A stencil tray having upstanding side and end walls and horizontal bottom walls providing shelves on which the lower narrow edges of a horizontal row of vertical stencils are adapted to rest, said shelves having a coating of baked crystal paint thereon which presents a rough surface that engages the bottom edges of the stencils and holds them from sliding over the surface when they are inclined with respect thereto.

4. A stencil tray adapted to hold therein a horizontal series of vertical stencils, at least a part of the interior surface of said tray in contact with the edges of the stencils having a crystal paint finish that provides a multitude of small irregular and promiscuously disposed projections that engage the edges of the stencils and hold hem from sliding over the surface.

5. A stencil tray adapted to hold therein a horizontal series of vertical stencils, at least a part of the interior surface of said tray in contact with the edges of the stencils having a crystal paint finish that provides a multitude of small irregular and promiscuously disposed projections that engage the edges of the stencils and hold them from sliding over the surface and the exterior surface of said tray having a smooth finish.

HARMON P. ELLIOTT.

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